- Most of the global community would die to be a part of a democratic setup offering freedom, independence, less interference, and an unbiased platform to express views unabashedly on any matter under the sun. None of the present-day citizens, irrespective of the economic state of their countries, would wish to be a part of an administration identified with an authoritarian, totalitarian, autocratic, or militaristic form of governance. Where there exists a severe form of restriction on anything and everything associated with desirable living standards, people are bound to feel suffocated, desperately yearning for an unhinged existence not encumbered by inhuman policies. Thus, a democratic form of governance is the preferred mode for all of us.
PC: Eleon Lass
- However, a few countries like China are not only overtly ambitious, intransigent, and stubborn in their skewed policy decisions but also aggressively inclined to pursue those stated objectives even if it goes against the tenets of the accepted rules-based world order. For instance, China can use its vast resources at its command to even indulge in subversive activities that foment trouble in other countries. Did someone say what happens to the world’s efforts at maintaining peace standards? Who cares so long as China believes it has the wherewithal to dictate terms to the global community as per the whims and fancies of the communist regime? Even the Russian leadership is known to use subversive elements to foment trouble elsewhere.
- The military coup in Niger last week found an early cheerleader—Russian private militia leader Wagner’s boss, Yevgeny Prigozhin. As reported, he also offered up his fighters to restore order there. This leads to two crucial inferences. First, Moscow continues to find Wagner useful despite its abortive mutiny against the Russian military brass last month. And second, the militia continues to do the Kremlin’s bidding in Africa. Wagner has been associated with other coups in Africa in recent years, including ones in Mali and Burkina Faso. The group also has security contracts in countries like the Central African Republic. Thus, it has emerged as a tool for Moscow to erode Western influence in target countries. Let’s look at how China is at the forefront of this despicable activity.
PC: Jayadeva Ranade
- China’s United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Chinese Communist Party central committee has ramped up its influence and interference operations in democratic societies. UFWD, which Mao had described as one of the CCP’s magic weapons, has received fresh funding and resources under Xi Jinping to amplify pro-China voices and silence critics. It uses disinformation, news farms, and sophisticated networks in elite circles in target countries to achieve its goals. Note that UFWD is alleged to have interfered in the 2019 and 2021 Canadian federal elections, whereas Britain’s MI5 issued an alert last year that a person linked to UFWD had infiltrated the British parliament. The global community should be guarded against these subversive moves.
